Barbara Pater restarted rehabilitation in the Hand Hub late last year to improve her grip and the dexterity of her hands. Picture: Kylie ElseSource: News Limited

EXPERIMENTAL robotic devices taking advantage of the brain's ability to rewire itself, even years after injury, are set to transform lives of stroke and brain injury patients in an Australian first rehabilitation unit.

Patients who train at Royal Melbourne Hospital's ``Hand Hub'' Limb Therapy Unit can half their rehabilitation time and regain use of their hands and arms six times faster than those undergoing traditional community-based rehabilitation.

The hand robots at the Royal Park campus, which are connected to interactive computer games, can even be used by patients with paralysed limbs just two days after injury.

Director of Rehabilitation Services at Royal Melbourne Hospital, Professor Fary Khan said neuroplasticity - the ability of the brain to repair itself - could be harnessed through this type of repetitive training.

``There is a lot we don't know about the brain, but neuroplasticity is the last frontier,'' Prof Khan said.

``Through these structured programs we're able to tap into the brain cells to wake them up and rewire them.

``It allows the brain to become more plastic and more able to make up for the deficits it's sustained so patients can do more for themselves.''

More than 30 patients have been through the program - supported by a $220,00 state government grant - and there is now a waiting list.

Prof Khan said upper limb rehabilitation usually took a back seat to retraining patients to reuse their legs and feet after stroke, multiple sclerosis or brain bleeds, which were prerequisites from being discharged from hospital.

``We know when stroke patients go home, up to 60 per cent don't have the arm dexterity or movement to allow them to do everyday activities

Barbara Pater, 59, was left with stroke-like symptoms including paralysis of her entire left-hand side after a tangle of blood-vessels burst in her brain.

The painter slowly regained use of her leg and arms after the brain bleed 14 years ago, but restarted rehabilitation in the Hand Hub late last year to improve her grip and dexterity of her hands.

``I knew I could improve, and I am, but I needed the opportunity to let my brain reorganise itself,'' Ms Pater said.

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